Plant tissue or dry matter leaf analysis is a critical tool in determining the nutritional needs of commercial crops and plants. It gives the grower and agronomic adviser a “snap shot” of the exact nutrient amount the plant is removing from the soil and the fertilizer, and any nutrient accumulation in the leaves; thus, determining if the current fertilizer program is effective and what adjustments need to be made. The T.E.A.M. analysis can most often determine deficiencies before any visible indicator appears.
Waiting to assess crops based on visual nutritional deficiencies can be a misleading method of diagnosing nutritional status. By the time such deficiencies are exhibited visually, the crop reductions may have already occurred. Additionally, reference data on various crops may not accurately address the problems, and non-nutritional issues can appear very similar to nutritional deficiencies.
Advantages of Albion’s T.E.A.M.® Analysis
The Technical Evaluation of Albion Minerals (T.E.A.M.®) report assists growers in the interpretation of plant tissue analysis results. Albion’s T.E.A.M. analysis evaluates how much of each nutrient is found in the tissue and compares that finding against its optimal level for that particular crop. The T.E.A.M. program also measures the relationships between minerals by ranking minerals based on their limitation to optimal crop production.
Recommendations to correct nutrient deficiencies or imbalances are provided in your T.E.A.M. report. In the case of macronutrients (N, P, K, and S), foliar application of minerals should only be considered a supplement to the elements being supplied by the soil. In most cases, soil applications of these elements will be required in addition to the recommended foliar sprays.
The amount of Albion’s Metalosate® recommended by the T.E.A.M. report will be adequate to satisfy the needs of the specific crop at the time of analysis. This allows for more efficient translocation of the minerals within the plant tissue. It is best to split the T.E.A.M. recommendations into multiple applications made over a two to four week period.
When determining plant nutritional needs, plant tissue analysis can provide important and timely information. The ability to accurately interpret the results of a tissue test is critical to the grower’s success. Albion’s unique T.E.A.M. reporting system provides all the necessary information you need to accurately diagnose and address specific nutritional problems.
This two step approach to mineral nutrition makes the T.E.A.M. analysis report together with the Metalosate products the most cost effective on the market today. Increase your crop quality, yield and produce shelf life. Please enquire via email or via your local IHD agronomist as to how this service can become a critical success factor in the decision making process on your farm.
Metalosate. Nutrition Delivered™